Sunday

Jarrett Stidham picked up where he left off in his previous trip to Nissan Stadium.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Jarrett Stidham threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Damoun Patterson with 4:12 left, rallying the New England Patriots to a 22-17 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Saturday night.

Stidham picked up where he left off in his previous trip to Nissan Stadium.

Stidham had five TD passes in Nashville by helping Auburn rout Purdue in the Music City Bowl last December, and this time the rookie was 14-of-19 for 193 yards to help the Patriots (2-0) come back from a 17-8 halftime deficit.

Two days of practices against the Titans was enough for Patriots coach Bill Belichick to let Tom Brady watch a second straight exhibition with New England's options at wide receiver thin because of injuries.

Marcus Mariota started for the Titans (1-1) and shook off a pair of three-and-outs before his best drive this preseason. He capped a 10-play, 87-yard drive with an 11-yard TD pass to his favorite target, three-time Pro Bowl tight end Delanie Walker, who broke his right ankle in the 2018 season opener.

With kicker Ryan Succop on the physically unable to perform list, coach Mike Vrabel let Mariota go for 2 against his old team. Mariota looked to throw, then ran to the end zone before going into the air and flipping over Patriots defensive back Duron Harmon for an 8-0 lead. Mariota was 6 of 9 for 63 yards passing.

Brady’s bunch?

When Tom Brady first lined up with his offense, it was noteworthy to see who was and wasn’t on the field.

Flanked to his left, out wide, was undrafted receiver Jakobi Meyers. In the slot was 2018 sixth-round pick Braxton Berrios. Out wide to the right was undrafted receiver Gunner Olszewski.

The combined number of NFL games played by that group of receivers is zero.

In the final 11-on-11 drill, veteran Dontrelle Inman replaced Meyers to line up with Olszewski and Berrios. Brady went 3-for-8 to close out the practice with that group. The war of attrition has taken its toll on the Patriots receiver depth chart.

“Those guys are working hard,” Brady said before sitting out his team’s second preseason game. “Training camp is an interesting time with a lot of bodies. There’s a lot of guys in and out. Some years, you might have three guys set or four guys set. I think this year we really haven’t had that. It’s good work for the quarterback just to make a read, make a throw. Whether we come up with it or not, at least we’re going to the right place and making a good deceive play. There’s still a lot to be gain with guys moving in and out. It’s just the way it’s been.”

If the Patriots were healthy, they’d look a lot different. Without Edelman, the Pats have given more opportunities to unknown players. Sometimes that pays off and sometimes the lack of experience is evident.

Meyers, for example, has looked like a gem of an undrafted free agent. The rookie has been the best receiver on the Patriots this summer and it hasn’t been that close. On Thursday, he looked the best during 1-on-1 drills, where he won two of his three matchups.

Of course, there have been some rough moments.

Brady yelled at Berrios on Thursday after the receiver appeared to run the wrong route. The ball sailed right as Berrios broke left. Brady’s offense has often looked behind the Patriots veteran laden secondary and on Thursday, the group had a tough finish.

“I don’t think that’s really in my control. The guys who are out there, they are trying to get the work they need to do,” Brady said. “I think it was good competitive work. They’re going against Malcolm (Butler), Logan (Ryan), Adoree (Jackson). Those are pretty good corners. They have two very good safeties. … Whoever is in there has to get the work. It was a good couple of days.”

Trophy presentation

The trash talk started early Wednesday when the Patriots first arrived at the Tennessee Titans practice facility. As soon as Brady walked on the field, Vrabel started to dig in on Brady.

That continued throughout the first joint practice as the former teammates playfully ripped one another. On Thursday, Brady took it to another level. When the Patriots quarterback walked on the Titans practice field, he presented Vrabel with a small trophy. On it read the score of last year’s Patriots-Titans game, which Tennessee won, 34-10.

“I don't think it's appropriate for me to speak about that private moment,” Brady said. “But it was a nice gesture from me to him, and hopefully he appreciates it.”

Brady and Vrabel’s relationship goes back to 2001 when the former linebacker signed with the Patriots. Their friendship off the field, translated to on-field success. As a tight end, Vrabel caught 10 touchdown passes, on 10 receptions, from Brady.

On Thursday, Vrabel even referenced his offensive success. When Ben Watson couldn’t hang on to a touchdown, Vrabel let Watson and Brady know that never happened with him. He even offered to sub in.

“I wouldn't describe it as civil, but he's been a good friend for a long time,” Brady said laughing. “Obviously, he's done a great job leading this team, and [I'm] proud of him, everything he's accomplished. We all support him even though he's coaching for another team. It was just really good work between these two teams who — you know, they took care of us pretty good last year — and we knew it was going to be competitive, so it's been a good couple of days.”

Mark Daniels writes for the Providence Journal of GateHouse Media.

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